The art of gift giving never dies.

Whether it’s receiving or giving, the idea of a gift is always positive. Any occasion or just because, a gift always serves a purpose. It could be as large as a car or as small as a toy ring, but it’s the thought behind it that counts. Mother’s Day is on the horizon, but you don’t have to wait until May 11 to show someone you love them.

A person will receive many kinds of gifts in a lifetime. Some with a full intention of thought behind it and others bought at CVS on the way to the party. Nevertheless, a gift still represents a person thinking of you one way or another. Big days like Christmas, birthdays, or anniversaries warrant all types of gifts and many different emotional ties to them.

 A “just because” gift is a gift given by someone, not for any special occasion, but just because they can. Many people may experience “just because” gifts from friends, family, and even strangers. How wonderful it would be if ever day a person was surprised with a gift they were not expecting?

Jen Putt, who recently was diagnosed with breast cancer, appreciates every gift given, no matter the occasion.

She has received “many gifts over the past couple months” like “deliveries, flowers, and many other things,” she said. This made her “feel happy and appreciated” especially in the recent months after her diagnosis.

[Editor’s Note: Jen Putt is the author’s mother. She lives in Norfolk, Mass., with her husband, Jeff.]

She sees two different types of just because gifts and they both make her feel positive. Receiving a gift from someone she knows makes her happy because to her it means that the person was thinking of her. On the other hand, she recognizes “just because” gifts can be as simple as a stranger paying for the car behind them in the drive through. This act of kindness she says is a pleasant surprise and makes her remember that there is still good in the world.

A specific event she recalls is when a neighbor left tulips and a card saying that they are thinking of her, on the porch. This happened “just this past week,” she said.

Beyond physical gifts Putt’s friends have organized a weekly food drop off service. Every week a new person drops off a dish that can be re heated and takes the stress of cooking off of the Putt family’s hands.

Putt was diagnosed in the early fall of the 2024 year with stage three breast cancer. She started chemo in late January of 2025 and finished her last round of chemo on Thursday, April 17th. She is now doing radiation and is on the road to recovery.

The Williston Northampton School women’s ice hockey team devoted this years annual Pink in the Rink game, in which fundraises and raises awareness for victims of breast cancer, to Mrs. Putt. They raised close to 10,000 dollars that were donated to Dana Farber, where Putt was being treated.

All of the gifts and donations made at the game attest to peoples unwavering spirits to give for something bigger then themselves. Whether it was in the raffle, a donation, or providing items for the effect, every person that was involved gave a gift in a way.

The act of giving for some fills them with the same amount or even more joy than if they were receiving the gift.

A gift can be a positive thing but also negative. Research from Psychology Today says that “gifts hold deep symbolic and emotional significance, serving as tools for connection, care, and even relationship management.”

For Sarah Swayer, a thoughtful gift is the best kind.

“Letters are better than a gift because it shows a person put in the effort and thought. You’re not always going to remember the gift, but you’ll remember the letters” Sawyer, an English teacher for more than 20 years, said. She often tells her kids — former Williston students Anna and Wil — that all she wants for Christmas is a letter. Without the surprise aspect, the gift is still very meaningful to her.

Each person had their own special taste of what they like or not. When gift giving the thought behind the present often means much more than the present itself. So next time you want to surprise someone, make someone happy, or let them know you are thinking of them, get them a gift. No matter the occasion, a gift always serves a purpose.